Teacher-Student+Achievement

School Libraries Work! is a 28-page attractive research foundation paper published in 2008 and is the most current public relations brochure for librarians and school library programs that I am aware of. This paper's audience seems to be principals and other school administrators, using research and position statements from a variety or organizations to back up the claim that school libraries work to provide equal opportunities for learning and achievement to all students. I think it's too long to be photocopied for the parent body of a school, but I believe it is necessary to have it prominently displayed, or at least in a binder with other library/librarian links to student achievement proof.

This 2004 brochure talks about how an effective library program can help a school meet the NCLB goals for 2013. It points out how the principal and the school library media specialist (SLMS) work as a team to meet the NCLB challenges; SLMS helps ensure all students are literate by 2013; SLMS helps ensure all students pass state tests; SLMS helps ensure all students are technologically-literate; SLMS helps ensure teachers have the resources for staff development, instructional strategies, teaming with classroom teachers to instruct children; SLMS helps ensure schools are committed to good educational practices that go beyond NCLB. There are additional sources from 2004 and earlier that support the above.



Even though this article is from April, 2000, it is relevant in how it points to studies (Alaska-1999, Pennsylvania-published after article, and Colorado-2000) as proof of the necessity of a solid school library for consistent student success. "...educating young people is a difficult and complex proposition--with no magic formula. There is, however, one clear and consistent finding that is supported by our research: a school library media program with a full-time library media specialist, support staff, and a strong computer network (one that connects the library's resources to classrooms and labs) leads to higher student achievement, regardless of social and economic factors in a community."